Syria’s Environmentalists are Calling for Action on Green Recovery 

The fall of the Assad regime brings a momentum of hope for Syria’s recovery from a 14-year-long war. Yet, years of intense fighting and gross mismanagement have left deep environmental scars on the country, compounded by serious climate challenges that require urgent attention. Cities were bombed to rubble, complete nature reserves were razed, oil infrastructure was targeted, and environmental governance has degraded or disappeared, resulting in rising solid waste pollution, illegal well drilling, and overuse of groundwater. Beyond the destruction, the rule of Assad also severely affected state capacity and priorities to deal with environmental issues, while repressing any civil society work.